MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday agreed to bolster Manila and Amsterdam’s ties, particularly in defense and water management. 

This comes after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (ASEAN-EU) commemorative summit in Brussels, Belgium.

Rutte said the Philippine leader is welcome to participate in two conferences on artificial intelligence and water management in The Netherlands next year. 

The Dutch Prime Minister said his country is hosting a conference on the role of artificial intelligence in the military domain in February 2023, which aims to gather foreign ministers, defense ministers and heads of states.

President Marcos said cybersecurity is crucial for the country’s armed forces, particularly in protecting military networks against cyberattacks.

“The cybersecurity part of our military is growing everyday,” the President pointed out. 

Rutte said The Netherlands is also hosting a conference on water management and climate change adaptation, which is among the key priorities of the Marcos administration.

“We are two counties who run a risk or two with rising sea levels and climate change,” said Rutte, noting that the conference will take place in March. 

Marcos, in response, said the engagements would be “very useful” for the Philippines, one of the countries most affected by extreme climate events.

“We are actually trying to decide whether or not to form a new agency just for water management. That seems to be right exactly within the area of concern of the Philippines,” said Marcos.

“I tell our locals, [the] local executives, every urban and large municipality in the Philippines has a water problem whether they know it or not,” the President pointed out. 

The chief executive earlier backed the creation of a government body that will manage water resources, saying the problem in the country's water supply needs the most urgent solution. (PND)